From the Soundtrack of Resistance to the Rhythm of Restoration
For decades, the Makhene family sang for South Africa's freedom. Today, we are building its future. Join us as we turn the arts into a vehicle for healing, skills, and economic dignity.
Become a Partner
A Legacy That Never Stopped Fighting
The Makhene name is woven into the tapestry of South African history. Led by our Founding Patron, Dr. Gerald "Blondie" Makhene, we have always been a voice for the voiceless—musicians, artists, and cultural warriors who sang truth to power during the darkest hours of apartheid.
But the struggle has changed. It is no longer about fighting a regime; it is about fighting the hopelessness, addiction, and unemployment that threatens our youth. The scars of the past still echo in our townships, where young people with extraordinary gifts find themselves trapped without opportunity or hope.
The Makhene Foundation is a Non-Profit Company (NPC) dedicated to using our greatest family assets—Music, Art, and Culture—to rebuild our communities from within. We believe that the same creative force that helped liberate a nation can now restore individual lives, one young person at a time.
The Half-Way House: An Incubator for Second Chances
At the centre of our work is the Half-Way House Programme—a revolutionary approach to post-rehabilitation support that recognises a critical gap in the social care system.
Many young people complete drug rehabilitation only to return to the streets because they have no skills, no support network, and no economic pathway forward. The cycle repeats itself, dreams fade, and potential is lost to the township dust.
Our Solution: We are building a secure, substance-free residential sanctuary in the heart of Diepkloof, Soweto. Here, we don't just offer shelter; we offer mastery. We combine clinical therapy with elite artistic training and vocational skills development, ensuring that when our residents leave, they walk out as skilled professionals ready to work—not just survive, but thrive.
This is not a halfway house in the traditional sense. This is a finishing school for futures, where young people discover their talents, refine their crafts, and rebuild their lives with dignity and purpose.
How We Heal: The Makhene Method
Our approach is rooted in the understanding that true restoration requires healing the whole person—spirit, skill, and economic security. We call this the Three Pillars of Transformation.
Holistic Wellness (The Spirit)
Guided by Letoya Makhene-Pulumo, we bridge the gap between clinical psychology and African spirituality. We use the philosophy of Kgontse ("It is Enough") to restore dignity and self-worth, addressing trauma with both evidence-based therapy and ancestral wisdom.
Elite Artistic Coaching (The Skill)
Under the mentorship of Dr. Blondie Makhene and industry professionals, beneficiaries receive world-class training in vocal composition, stagecraft, and performance. We turn raw talent into disciplined art that can command respect and remuneration in the marketplace.
Vocational Independence (The Future)
We partner with industry experts to teach tangible skills—from sound engineering and event production to urban agriculture and the green economy. We create earners, not just survivors. Our graduates leave with qualifications, portfolios, and networks.
Powered by Creativity
Sustainability Through Enterprise
We are not a traditional charity dependent solely on donations. We operate a commercial media arm—led by Pauline Makhene—that produces documentaries, reality formats, cultural events, and branded content for corporate clients.
We believe in "finding the business in the work we do." The profits from our media productions are reinvested directly into the Half-Way House, ensuring a sustainable, long-term impact. This model allows our partners to see their investment multiply through both social returns and commercial innovation.
Our media projects also serve as training grounds, giving our beneficiaries real-world experience in production, performance, and creative entrepreneurship.
Leadership: The Custodians of Legacy
The Foundation is guided by a leadership team that combines cultural heritage, commercial acumen, clinical expertise, and strategic vision. Together, we ensure that every decision honours our past whilst building our future.
Mxolisi Phiri
Chief Executive OfficerThe operational strategist steering the Foundation's growth, governance frameworks, and partnership development with precision and integrity.
Dr. Gerald "Blondie" Makhene
Founding PatronThe cultural icon and living legend ensuring our values remain true to the legacy of resistance, resilience, and radical hope.
Pauline Makhene
Director of OperationsThe media executive driving our commercial sustainability through innovative content production and strategic industry partnerships.
Letoya Makhene-Pulumo
Director of WellnessThe spiritual guide and clinical practitioner leading our therapeutic approach with compassion, cultural sensitivity, and proven methodologies.
Nowel Mdingi
Director of StrategyThe youth architect connecting us to the digital generation, ensuring our programmes remain relevant, accessible, and transformative.
Help Us Build the Stage
The songs of the past gave us courage. The melodies that filled the streets of Soweto during the struggle carried messages of hope when hope seemed impossible. The actions of today will give us a future—one where our young people can transform their pain into power, their struggles into success stories.
We are currently in the Capital Phase to secure land and build the infrastructure for the Half-Way House. This is not simply a construction project; it is the foundation upon which countless lives will be rebuilt. We invite Government Departments, Corporate CSI Managers, International Donors, and Philanthropic Foundations to not just fund a building, but to adopt a legacy.
"There is a young person in Soweto right now with a voice like a lion, but a spirit broken by circumstance. Together, we can help them find their melody again."
Your partnership will provide more than bricks and mortar. It will provide dignity, purpose, and economic freedom to young South Africans who deserve a second chance to write their own stories.
Investment Opportunities
01
Capital Partners
Support the construction and establishment of our Half-Way House facility—a permanent landmark of hope away from townships.
02
Programme Sponsors
Fund specific therapeutic, artistic, or vocational training programmes that align with your organisation's CSI objectives.
03
Skills Development Partners
Provide industry expertise, mentorship, internships, or employment pathways for our graduates.
04
Media Collaborators
Commission content projects through our commercial arm whilst supporting social impact storytelling.
05
Legacy Donors
Establish endowments or named programmes that create lasting impact across generations.
Each partnership tier offers distinct recognition, impact measurement, and opportunities for meaningful engagement with our beneficiaries and programmes.
Join the Movement
Connect With Us
Makhene Foundation
Diepkloof, Soweto, Gauteng
South Africa
Registration: Non-Profit Company (NPC)
Together, we will transform the soundtrack of struggle into a symphony of success. The stage is being built. Will you help us raise the curtain?